city, north-central Bihār state, northeastern India, just south of the Burhi Gandak River. The city was founded by Muẓaffar Khān in the 18th century and was constituted a municipality in 1864. A major road and rail hub, it is a trade centre on the Patna-Nepal route. Rice and sugar milling and cutlery manufacture are the chief industries. It is the seat of the University of Bihār (founded in 1952). Pop. (1991 prelim.) 240,450.